Norwalk man accused of stealing, wrecking his parents' sports car

Norwalk Reflector Staff
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Oct 29, 2015 at 12:44 PM

A Norwalk man accused of stealing his parents' sports car is suspected of being intoxicated during a Lais Road crash early Monday morning.

Matthew D. Fortner, 20, most recently of 28 Summit St., failed to negotiate a curve east of Whittlesey Avenue at 2:35 a.m. and went off the left side and hit a guard rail and tree before stopping in a ravine, state Trooper Phillip Clemons said in his report.

Fortner and his passenger, Jeff A. Sanders, 21, of 2003 Miller Road, Willard, reported minor injuries, but weren't transported to a hospital. Clemons' report listed disabling damage to the left side of the 1998 Ford Mustang.

Less than a half hour after the crash, Clemons called Fortner's parents. His mother submitted a written statement to Norwalk Police Capt. Jack O'Neil, saying her son didn't have permission to take the Mustang, which was parked at her Summit Street home as of 10 p.m. Sunday.

The couple had told their son, who doesn't live with them, for two months that he wasn't allowed to use the car because "he is uninsurable with their insurance company," O'Neil wrote in his report. After confirming the accident with the state Highway Patrol, O'Neil submitted his report to the Norwalk Law Director's office to consider a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

No charges had been filed as of this morning through Norwalk Municipal Court, a law secretary said.

Fortner was charged with failure to control, driving under the influence, underage consumption and driving with a suspended license after the Lais Road crash. After the suspect took a breath test, Fortner's blood alcohol content was .181, more than twice the legal limit, Clemons said.